jessica corneille
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I’m a PhD student at the University of Cambridge’s Consciousness and Cognition Lab, under the supervision of Prof Tristan Bekinschtein. My work here is centred around the Neurophenomenology of Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs) elicited by contemplative practices such as (Kundalini) yoga, meditation, breathwork and breath manipulation. My primary interest is to better understand the psychology and neurophysiology underlying profound, non-pharmacological spiritual experiences.
Prior to joining the lab, I obtained my MSc in Psychology with Distinction from the University of Greenwich under the supervision of Dr David Luke. I subsequently worked as an independent researcher specialising in spontaneous ASCs, specifically those characterised by a deep sense of direct connection with - and complete apprehension of - a perceived ‘ultimate reality,’ ‘universal consciousness’, or ‘the divine’ (i.e., oneness/nondual experiences). I am dedicated to mapping these experiences within a neurophenomenological framework, while examining their broader social, philosophical and well-being implications, and keen for this work to inform a wider exploration on how such experiences converge, diverge and interrelate with certain psychopathological presentations. Apart from my academic endeavours, I am a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, an advisor/collaborator to a number of philosophy and mental-health NGOs, and run regular peer-support groups to help people navigate and integrate their ASCs through the power of community. I am deeply interested in Eastern philosophy and Philosophy of Mind more broadly, reading, meditating, lucid dreaming, dancing, astronomy, watching sci-fi films and DJing. |
PUBLICATIONS and Talks
Publications
Wright, M.J., Galante, J., Corneille, J.S. et al. Altered States of Consciousness are Prevalent and Insufficiently Supported Clinically: A Population Survey. Mindfulness 15, 1162–1175 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02356-z
Corneille, J. S., & Luke, D. (2021). Spontaneous spiritual awakenings: phenomenology, altered states, individual differences, and well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 720579. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.720579
Selected Oral Presentations
Jessica Corneille. The Psychology of Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings and their Implications on Science and Society.
The Science of Consciousness Conference; University of Arizona (2024).
Jessica Corneille. Spontaneous Non-Dual Experiences in Psychology. Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and
Neuroscience; King’s College London (2024).
Jessica Corneille. How Mystical/Nondual Experiences Support the Need for an Expanded Science of
Consciousness. CIHS Summer Symposium; California Institute for Human Science (2023).
Jessica Corneille. Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences,
and Well-being. Transpersonal Psychology Section Conference; The British Psychological Society (2021).
Jessica Corneille. Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences,
and Wellbeing. International Network for the Study of Spirituality Conference (2021).
Poster Presentations
Malcolm Wright, Julieta Galante, Jessica Corneille, Andrea Grabovac, Daniel Ingram, & Matthew Sacchet. Are emergent phenomena rare and are we adequately addressing them in mainstream clinical settings? The Science of Consciousness Conference; University of Arizona (2023).
Wright, M.J., Galante, J., Corneille, J.S. et al. Altered States of Consciousness are Prevalent and Insufficiently Supported Clinically: A Population Survey. Mindfulness 15, 1162–1175 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02356-z
Corneille, J. S., & Luke, D. (2021). Spontaneous spiritual awakenings: phenomenology, altered states, individual differences, and well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 720579. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.720579
Selected Oral Presentations
Jessica Corneille. The Psychology of Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings and their Implications on Science and Society.
The Science of Consciousness Conference; University of Arizona (2024).
Jessica Corneille. Spontaneous Non-Dual Experiences in Psychology. Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and
Neuroscience; King’s College London (2024).
Jessica Corneille. How Mystical/Nondual Experiences Support the Need for an Expanded Science of
Consciousness. CIHS Summer Symposium; California Institute for Human Science (2023).
Jessica Corneille. Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences,
and Well-being. Transpersonal Psychology Section Conference; The British Psychological Society (2021).
Jessica Corneille. Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences,
and Wellbeing. International Network for the Study of Spirituality Conference (2021).
Poster Presentations
Malcolm Wright, Julieta Galante, Jessica Corneille, Andrea Grabovac, Daniel Ingram, & Matthew Sacchet. Are emergent phenomena rare and are we adequately addressing them in mainstream clinical settings? The Science of Consciousness Conference; University of Arizona (2023).